north west mountain rescue team Minimum Donation 2 Includes Annual Report for 2016 nwmrt north west mountain rescue team

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1 Minimum Donation Includes Annual Report for 2016

2 Contents Acknowledgements Editor Louis Edmondson Photography Thanks to all the team members who have provided photographs for this publication, particularly Anthony Murray and also Trevor Quinn, for his group and specialist photographs. Design and Print Ecclesville Printing Ltd Editorial 4 Callout Log 6 Mountain, cave, cliff and sea cliff rescue incidents 2016 Uel Hamilton 9 President. North West Mountain Rescue Team Team Officers & Members 10 Section Areas 13 Community and PR Events Belfast Hills 2016 Walking Festival 16 Broughshane Run 5K & 10K + Fun Run 18 How to contact us 20 How to donate 20 How to keep up to date with 20 would like to thank all our supporters, funders and sponsors especially the NI Dept of Justice. 2 3

3 Editorial North West Mountain Rescue Team 2016 This is the third edition of our annual publication On-Call, illustrating the work and composition of the team and highlighting some of the personnel, training and events in which we are involved to provide an essential search and rescue service for the whole of Northern Ireland. In common with previous years - and indeed other MR teams on the island of Ireland or in the rest of the UK, 2016 was a very busy and active year for the North West Mountain Rescue Team. The statistics speak for themselves: - 27 incidents approximately one a fortnight, which took over 90 hours to resolve. 107 exercises lasting nearly 1000 hours and 121 PR, demo and fundraising events which took up almost 800 hours. In total, doing the work for which we exist, took nearly 2000 hours which was given feely by our 64 active members and if you add up all of their individual commitment hours, our volunteers collectively gave nearly 13½ thousand hours to the work of the team. Their commitment to this life-saving work can only be achieved by the work being put in to training, preparation and inevitably fundraising, which has now become (perhaps unfortunately) an even greater and necessary part of the focus of voluntary emergency teams everywhere. Nearly 300 hours were devoted to fund raising alone, on top of the vital training in workshops and simulated call-out scenarios which included (to nearest 50 hours) medical (nearly 900 hours), search (350 hours), rope, equipment and technical work (2500 hours), navigation (500 hours), communications (750 hours), helicopter (100 hours) and increasingly diverse skills that are being required of the teams.winter and water safety (1000 hours). But statistics tell only part of the story. They are made up of real people, giving many hours of real time to train, learn, prepare and help for difficult, extremely diverse and.sadly sometimes tragic situations. Those 27 incidents included: A Microlite, with two people on board, that went missing in the Mid-Glens of Antrim as it was flying to Scotland. NWMRT did an extensive search of the hills in poor visibility, only standing down when the wreckage was discovered at sea. A deceased woman was discovered at the base of Benevenagh cliffs just outside Limavady. The team was tasked to recover her body. At the annual St. Patrick s day walk up Slemish hill, the team had to help some walkers down to safety, including a stretcher evacuation of a woman who had injured her leg. During the annual Reek Sunday pilgrim ascent of Croagh Patrick, where the NWMRT join colleagues in MRI, they were tasked to attend several incidents including a casualty who suffered a Heart Attack, had a defibrillator administered several times and then was airlifted to hospital. He has since made a full recovery. In very cold and icy conditions, a man and his 6 years old son, who were overdue on a return from a walk on Slemish Hill were found suffering from extereme cold and disorientation. A major technical rescue involving ropes, rigging and stretcher ensued, lowering both of them safely to the base of the hill and home. North West Mountain Rescue Team covers nearly 5,000 square miles ( Sq.Kms) of Northern Ireland in three sections, West, Central and East, based in Enniskillen., Co. Fermanagh, Magherafelt, Co. Derry and Broughshane, Co. Antrim respectively. Each section has around 20 volunteers of all ages and gender. When a call-out comes in, the nearest section will be the first to respond, then will request other sections and team members to help if and when needed saw both a continuation and an increase in liaisons with other teams and rescue agencies both statutory and volunteer, throughout the UK and Ireland, assisting in operations and conducting joint exercises with e.g. Galloway MRT, Carrybridge RNLI, Irish and HM Coastguard and Antrim area NI Fire and Rescue Service. There was also a significant liaison with many, very diverse community groups and organisations, to help raise both awareness of our work and much needed funds. Our major fundraising and community events on the Belfast Hills Walk in May and the Broughshane Run in August raised significant funding. Finally thanks go out to all the people outside of the team who have helped to raise funds have donated monies.given time in instruction and help or simply just moral support, particularly the partners and families of volunteer team members. The team could not exist without their understanding and support. Fundraising Events... Training Exercises... 4 Active Service Search and Rescue Callouts... 5

4 Callout Log Mountain, cave, cliff and sea cliff rescue incidents 2016 Search and rescue organisation teams CRS - Community Rescue Service DWMRT - Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team FSAR - Foyle Search and Rescue NIAS - Northern Ireland Ambulance Service including Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) NIFRS - Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service NWMRT - North West Mountain Rescue Team MMRT - Mourne Mountain Rescue Team PSNI - Police Service Northern Ireland. RNLI - Royal National; Lifeboat Institution SARDA - Search and Rescue Dog Association SARLOC - Search and Rescue locating APP January 19 January Glenariff. Notified by a Farmer that a sheep had been stranded in a gully for a number of weeks and requested our assistance to get it down. Team members were lowered down to the sheep. It was put in a bag and lowered to a safe location. 12 members 5 hours. March 12 March Glenariff. Female runner passed the first stage of the Fell Race - she did not reach stage 2. 2 NWMRT members dispatched along the path taken by the runner and runner was located. She was feeling sick and dizzy. The runner was walked back to Mobile 4, treated by a NWMRT member - and rested for 30 mins before she insisted on walking back to base. 8 team members. 4 hours April 28 April Lisbellaw. Co. Fermanagh. PSNI notified by a local resident of an unknown person calling out in the vicinity of Topped mountain car park and reported fresh foot prints in the snow going up the track in direction of the summit. During initial search, PSNI located 2 dogs, one of which was caught (Beagle) and brought to the police car. After further searches by PSNI Dog, NIFRS etc, NWMRT were stood down, with PSNI to review the situation in daylight. No further action taken. 10 members May 2 May Davagh Forest. Cookstown. Co. Tyrone Team called by parent of missing child in Davagh Forest. Parents managed to find child while Team was mobilising. 9 team members 1 hour 2 May Cuilcagh Mountain. Co. Fermanagh. West Section training in the area, when two women went missing from a charity walk. PSNI tasked the team to respond. West Section conducted a search of top of mountain and route of walk. The missing women were eventually found in a pub, on totally opposite side of mountain. 20 members 5 hours May 15 May Slemish Mountain. Broughshane. Woman walking with her family, slipped and fell a short distance, injuring her ankle, when descending the South East slope of Slemish Mountain NWMRT and NIAS HART Team responded. Using a stretcher, NWMRT carried out the extraction and carry down to the waiting ambulance. 20 members 4 hours 30 May Black Hill. Belfast. NWMRT put on Stand by for missing camper on Black Hill Belfast. Camper eventually located by PSNI 13 members 4 hours June 1 June Davagh Forest. Cookestown. Co.Tyrone. Call out to locate missing injured biker in Davagh Forest. Located by Forest Ranger whilst NWMRT on route but team continued as potential carry out. Liaised with HART on arrival, who said casualty had just been evacuated with minor injuries. 19 members 4 hours 10 June Antrim Plateau and Glens. Major multi-agency search for a Microlite aircraft with two people on board, reported missing in heavy cloud and fog above the area. Search called off as light faded. Tragically the wreckage was later found out at sea. 14 members 14 hours 18 June Benevenagh Mountain. Limavady. Co. Londonderry. Body of a female found at base of cliff at Binevenagh. PSNI required assistance in body recovery and rig abseil down possible fall route for evidence collection. Body extracted by stretcher to PSNI vehicle at base of cliffs. 19 members 8 hours July 28 July Greyabbey. Co. Down. Contacted about female who was missing and had left a message that life was not worth living, after breaking up with her boyfriend. Stand By put in place in case PSNI tasked NWMRT. Missing person then found safe and well. 14 members 1 hour 31 July Croagh Patrick Mountain. Westport. Co. Mayo. Assist other MRI teams from around Ireland on annual Reek Sunday pilgrimage up Croagh Patrick. Two incidents by NWMRT: 1. Woman with vertigo who was escorted off the Cone to the Medical Tent. 2. Elderly male walker suffered cardiac event near the Medical Tent. Team assisted in resuscitation and evacuation by stretcher to Irish Coastguard helicopter. 17 members 12 hours August 6 August Slemish Mountain. Broughshane. Man with two children had difficulties descending Slemish due to an old knee injury. Members doing maintenance at the Slemish Rescue Post were called and assisted the man and two children off the mountain. 4 members 2 hours 7 August Lurig Mountain. Cushendall. Ambulance seen parked at the foot of Lurig. Two members of a local walking group informed NWMRT that a woman had broken her leg up on the hill and help had been sent for. They had phoned the CRS who responded and an ambulance was called. Despite no tasking from PSNI, Stand by issued to NWMRT but then stood down when reports arrived that the woman had been taken off the hill. 19 members 2 hours 6 7

5 Callout Log Mountain, cave, cliff and sea cliff rescue incidents 2016 August 11 August Divis Mountain. Dundrod. Woman phoned the PSNI because she and her two children were now lost in mist. NWMRT alerted and undertook a hasty response to the scene. NT Ranger for Divis (and an auxiliary member) were also contacted and he was on scene and went to the Summit. They brought the group to safety. 2 members 1 hour 13 August Lurig Mountain. Cushendall. Incident 1: Crag- fast woman on steep ground, close to top of Lurig Mountain. Woman was competing in Lurig Mountain Fell Race. Woman helped from steep ground, treated for shock, warmed up and escorted down to roadside by NWMRT. Incident 2: Mountain runner in Lurig Hill race fell and dislocated finger. Incident 3: Runner fell and lacerated knee. Casualty treated and helped to roadside. 12 members 25 August Banagher Forest. Dungiven. Co. Londonderry. PSNI call out to assist NIAS to extract a walker with lower leg injury 500 meters to trail and ambulance in Banagher Forest. When Central section arrived, casualty had been evacuated by helicopter and 2 Coast Guard Land Rovers were on scene. 19 members 27 August. Cuilcagh Mountain. Co. Fermanagh. NWMRT informed of a woman found collapsed on the Boardwalk on Cuilcagh. Team called and found the casualty, who had recovered enough to walk a little. Casualty driven down to Car Park and declined further help. 16 members 30 August Banagher Glen. Dungiven. Co. Londonderry. Called received about a walker who was tired and dehydrated, on the mountain at the side of the Dam in Banagher Glen. The man was contacted and his position roughly established. An approximate grid reference was passed to PSNI air support. PSNI air support found the man and lifted him to the car park, where an ambulance was on site just as members of our Team arrived. 20 members October 20 October Shane s Hill. Ballymena. Call regarding a walker who had taken ill while on Shane s Hill. NIAS on site and Sligo Helicopter tasked. Casualty air lifted to Hospital. 8 members. November 20 November Slemish Mountain. Broughshane. Co. Antrim Contacted with a report of an overdue man, with his 6 year old son, who went to climb Slemish. Man thought he had begun to come down Slemish at the front, but was overtaken by darkness and NWMRT tasked to find and extract both of them. Difficulty finding location of man in the dark, but he was located towards the back. Complex technical rescue, using stretcher, ropes and harnesses. 15 members 4 hours December 12 December Carrick-on- Shannon. Co. Sligo. Call from SLMRT Team Leader to assist them in responding to a Call Out where a landslide has covered a digger and driver in a Bog. Stood down before mobilisation, after a body was recovered on scene. 17 members. 1 hour. Uel Hamilton President. North West Mountain Rescue Team Londonderry man, Uel Hamilton, was one of the founding members of the NWMRT and has been a stalwart of the organisation for over 36 years. He first discovered his love of the outdoors in his youth through the Scouting Association. He steadily grew more interested in a range of outdoor activities, including hill-walking, climbing and abseiling and started adding coveted badges to his belt, starting with the Climbing Badge Award. In December 1980, he was invited to become a member of the North West Mountain Rescue Unit and a year later, the group evolved into a fully-fledged team. At that time, the group not only covered the greater Derry area, but also the Donegal Mountains, until the Donegal Mountain Rescue Team was formed. There were 20 members and the volunteers used their own cars for transport and had some equipment supplied to a rescue post, based at Strand Road RUC station. They had use of a white Police Land Rover and VHF radios.but it was enough to answer as diverse call-outs as rescuing sheep from crags, to taking part in major search and rescue operations. In 1993, Uel took over as Team Leader, securing great improvements to the service alongside Joe Dowdall, the then Secretary. Their partnership proved to be very beneficial to the NWMRT over the next 25 years. In 1996 Seamus Bradley assumed the role of Team Leader and Uel took on the vital role of Treasurer (which he held for 12 years). At the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Irish Mountain Rescue Association s foundation in Kerry in 2006, Uel was given an I.M.R.A. Service Award. His citation reads The North West Mountain Rescue Team was founded in November Uel was amongst those who brought this about and is still an active member 25 years on. Starting with absolutely nothing, Uel has been a driving force that has inspired others to move forward to achieve the standard of service that the team provides today. Even after a serious illness, Uel returned to full active membership and has held all of the key committee positions within the team over the years as he worked to improve the team and its service to the public. Uel is now President of the NWMRT and is a person who can be held up as a shining example of service to the community. Uel is still a modest mean despite all this praise and in a recent newspaper article he would only say of his exemplary long service: I found my continued service to the North West Mountain Rescue Team a rewarding one. Whether a person needs help or is missing on a mountain, or in a local area, we have built and maintained a strong team to help them to safety and to bring comfort to their families. Rescuer Revealed 8 9

6 Team Members 10 11

7 Team Members Section Areas Team Officers North West Mountain Rescue Team Team President: Uel Hamilton Deputy Section Leaders Team Leader: Joe Dowdall Central Section: Marty O Connor East Section: Dale Lockens Chairperson: Davy Campbell West Section: Sean Corrigan Secretary: Eileen Coulter Treasurer: Hazel Anderson Communications Officer: Alastair Hill Equipment Officer: Peter Goldring Section / Deputy Team Leaders First Aid Officer: Marie Hayden Central Section: Gerry Dowdall Paramedic: Michael McConville East Section: Phillip Neeson Press & Public Relations Officer: Louis Edmondson West Section: David Sheridan Team Training Officer: Allen Thurston Operations: Catherine Scott Training Officer East: Jonathan Shields Training Officer West: Barney O Loughlin Transport officer: Gareth McElvey Team Members Belleek Where we fit in Search and Rescue Teams in Ireland FERMANAGH ENNISKILLEN Omagh LONDONDERRY Strabane TYRONE Limavady Cookstown Dungannon Portstewart MAGHERAFELT Coleraine LONDONDERRY Portrush Portadown Armagh Ballymoney Lough Neagh Lurgan Craigavon Ballycastle ANTRIM BALLYMENA Antrim Lisburn Banbridge BELFAST Larne Carrickfurgus DOWN Belfast Lough Bangor Newtownards Strangford Lough ARMAGH Mourne MRT Downpatrick Newry Newcastle DONEGAL Donegal MRT DERRY ANTRIM TYRONE North West MRT Warrenpoint West Section Central Section East Section Audrey Jones David Dowdall Andrew Kelly Diane Sheridan David McNeill Anna Millar Gareth Armstrong Eoin McKee Anthony Murray Jhan Crane Gary Reid Catherine Tilbury Keith Thompson Gillian Crawford Damian Cullinan Kevin Baker Helen Peoples Deborah McLaughlin Kieran Taggart Jack Trzewiczek Hannah Davis Maud Cunningham Joan Gribbin John Binns Pamela Ellis Ken Johnston Steve Agnew Robert McMaster Noel McGillian Stuart Plant Stephen Forrest Trevor Hartley Tim McKee William Armstrong Trevor Quinn Tracey Adams earch and Rescue Dog Association Kerry MRT Mayo MRT MAYO KERRY Sligo-Leitrim MRT Galway MRT GALWAY CLARE LIMERICK CORK SLIGO ROSCOMMON LEITRIM TIPPERARY FERMANAGH LONGFORD OFFALLY WATERFORD LAIOS CAVAN WESTMEATH MONAGHAN CARLOW KILKENNY Tramore Cliff & MRT MEATH KILDARE ARMAGH WEXFORD LOUTH South Eastern MRT Mourne MRT DUBLIN Dublin-Wicklow MRT WICKLOW DOWN Glen of Imaal MRT 12 13

8 Community Events Community and PR Events List 2016 Community Events Community and PR Events List 2016 January 14 January Ballymena. Ballymena High Kirk Boys Brigade. Demonstration of equipment and techniques. 5 members 2 hours February 19 February Dungannon. Co. Tyrone Gaelscoil Aodha Rua. Demonstration of equipment and techniques. 2 members 2 hours. March 13 March Strabane. Co. Tyrone Emergency Services Day. Display and demonstration of equipment and techniques. 4 members 4 hours April 30 April Gosford Park. Markethill. Co. Armagh Two day event - working with the PSNI. Display and demonstration of equipment and techniques for Scouts. 6 members 8 hours May 21 May Dundrod. Belfast. Belfast Hill Walking Festival. Organised by NWMRT..this was a major fundraising and PR event involving many people and included an information stand and display of the team and its equipment and skills. June 25 June Newtownabbey. Co. Antrim Display and demonstration of equipment and techniques to the customers and general public at Go Outdoors shop. 7 members 5 hours August 1 August Broughshane. Broughshane 5k + 10K + Fun Run. Organised by NWMRT and Ballymena Runners..this was a major fundraising, community and PR event involving many people and included an information stand and display of the team and its equipment and skills. 28 members 5 hours. 6 August Cushendall. Red Bay RNLI Lifeboat Open day. Display, information stand and demonstration of equipment and techniques. 8 members 4 hours 28 August Lisbellaw. Co. Fermanagh. Carrybridge RNLI Lifeboat Open day. Display, information stand and demonstration of equipment and techniques. 5 members. 5 hours. September 25 September. Derry City. Co. Londonderry. Legenderry car show at old Ebrington Barracks. Display, information stand and demonstration of equipment and techniques. 3 members 5 hours October 6 October. Lisbellaw. Co. Fermanagh. Lisbellaw Primary School. Display and demonstration of equipment and techniques to pupils. 2 members. 2 hours. 17 October Castlereagh. Belfast City. Presbyterian Women s Group. Castlereagh. Display and demonstration of equipment and techniques. 5 members. 2 hours. 23 October Gortin Glen Park. Co. Tyrone. Mid-Ulster Walking Club. Recruitment exercise plus display and demonstration of equipment and techniques. 13 members. 6 hours. November 8 November Derry City. Co. Londonderry. Oakgrove Integrated Primary School. Display and demonstration of equipment and techniques to pupils. 2 members. 2 hours 10 November Doagh. Kilbride Hall Brownies and Girl Guides. Display and demonstration of equipment and techniques, plus advice to Girl Guides about to embark on their first Duke of Edinburgh s Award Scheme Expedition Training. 3 members.. 22 November Enniskillen. Co. Fermanagh. Rossory Tree Festival at Rossory Church Hall. NWMRT Christmas tree for the festival made and set up. 6 members.. 29 November Omagh. Co. Tyrone. Omagh Venture Scouts. Display and demonstration of equipment and techniques to Scouts. 7 members. December 10 December Newtownabbey. Co. Antrim Display and demonstration of equipment and techniques to the customers and general public at Go Outdoors shop 5 members. 5 hours. 10 December Broughshane. Christmas Fair at Raceview Mill. Display, information stand and demonstration of equipment and techniques. 4 members. 5 hours. 15 December. Enniskillen. Co. Fermanagh. South West Area Hospital. Annual presentation of presents by our own Santa and helpers to children who are unfortunate to be in hospital over Christmas. 7 members

9 Belfast Hills 2016 Walking Festival In 2016, NWMRT organised and ran a very successful Belfast Hills Walking Festival. The annual event is one of the highlights for the Team s calendar allowing us to engage with the public and encourage the safe use of the uplands. In what was a rare day for the Belfast Hills, the weather was glorious and as a result, there was a great turn-out of individuals, walking clubs and other groups who came from far and wide including an Antrim Animal Sanctuary, A Newtownabbey Care Home, A Belfast Suicide Charity, The Somme Veterans Centre and The Scout Association. Many of these organisations raised much-needed funds for their own organisation through sponsorship.and we would continue to support this, but others raised equally-needed funds for NWMRT Some of the 111 people who took part, opted for the adventurous 20k walk but the majority of the walkers went for the slightly less strenuous 10k walk. In guided and unguided walks for each distance, they took in Divis Hill, Black Hill and Black Mountain an area of outstanding natural beauty, which provides the backdrop, to the concrete conurbation of the capital city, Belfast - right on its doorstep. The good weather provided clear views across Belfast Lough and to Scotland, the Isle of Man, Mourne Mountains and even Donegal Belfast Hills Walking Festival The 2017 Belfast Hills Walking Festival will be taking place on Sunday 21 May and will build upon the successes of the previous years. The event will start and finish from the public car park on Divis Road and once again will offer either a 10 km or 20 km route to choose from. The routes will be way marked and marshalled. For anyone who wishes, you can also choose to join a guided walk from a team member. This year all participants will receive a certificate of completion, a goody bag and light refreshments following the walk. To Register for

10 Broughshane Run 5K & 10K + Fun Run The very first Broughshane 5K & 10K + Fun Run took place on Monday 1 August 2016 in a partnership between NWMRT, Ballymena Runners (BR) and Broughshane & District Community Association (BDCA). The event was more than simply a fundraiser for NWMRT. It was a unique community event which took place in Broughshane and involved many of its residents of all ages as well as runners from local areas and some from further afield. We are very grateful to local businesses who supported the event and kindly donated goodies such as trophies, water, fruit etc. These included James McNeill Grocery & Hardware, YESSS, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, Spar Broughshane, Fitness Elite and Moore Concrete. We also received a large anonymous donation from a local business which was paramount in the overall running of the event. It was a great success. The aim had been to attract 200 participants. but the actual number exceeded 350 with a further 100 participating in the Fun Run. In terms of community involvement and the increased profile of NWMRT the success cannot be measured specifically, but the press and media coverage and enthusiastic feedback since the event has convinced the partnership to repeat the event in Details are still being finalised but will be available at eventbrite.co.uk/ In 2017 the event will take place on Monday 31 July 18 19

11 In an emergency Dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue. Be ready to give details of your location, number of casualties, any injuries and your telephone number. How to contact us Telephone (calls only no texts) Join the Mountain Rescue Support Group - contact secretary@.org How you can help Make a donation online or at a street collection. Organise a fund-raising event. Participate in a fundraising event. Sponsor the team through services or equipment. How to donate Website: fundraising@.org Cheque: Payable to north west mountain rescue team JustGiving: justgiving.com/ Text NWMR22 2/ 5/ 10 to eg NWMR22 10 How to keep up to date with twitter.com/northwestmrt Design and Printing by Ecclesville Printing Services Ltd